A couple of tips for you today: 1. Focus on building authentic relationships; trust is the foundation of raising capital. 2. Share your vision with confidence - investors buy into you likely more than the deal (although it also needs to make sense!😊).

@Denise and Stuart MacPherson left behind secure government careers to take a bold leap into real estate, determined to rebuild their lives after facing financial setbacks from divorce and stock market losses. Starting from scratch, they used registered funds as their secret weapon, managing their first property five hours away and eventually turning a simple side hustle into a financial powerhouse. Their strategy of leveraging registered funds has not only given them financial freedom but also allowed them to travel, support family, and contribute to causes they care about. Today, they share their hard-earned lessons and help others find similar success through smart investing and unconventional methods.

In the world of real estate investing, building relationships is essential for success—especially when it comes to raising capital. The ability to connect with potential investors and build trust can make the difference in securing funding for your projects. At the heart of these relationships lies a skill often underestimated: 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠. But this isn't just casual chit-chat; it’s an art form that opens doors to meaningful connections, paving the way for stronger partnerships and successful capital-raising. Here’s a guide to the nine essential elements of small talk that can help real estate investors like you create rapport with potential investors. 1. 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙎𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 A warm smile can be the perfect icebreaker. It signals friendliness and approachability, instantly putting others at ease. A genuine smile sets the stage for an open, positive conversation, encouraging others to engage with you comfortably. 2. 𝘼͟𝙨͟𝙠͟ ͟𝙊͟𝙥͟𝙚͟𝙣͟-͟𝙀͟𝙣͟𝙙͟𝙚͟𝙙͟ ͟𝙌͟𝙪͟𝙚͟𝙨͟𝙩͟𝙞͟𝙤͟𝙣͟𝙨͟ In small talk, the goal is to get people talking—and open-ended questions are the key. Instead of questions that lead to simple yes-or-no answers, try prompts like, “What inspired you to start investing?” or “What excites you most about real estate?” These questions invite more detailed responses and allow you to gain insights into the other person’s interests and motivations. 3. 𝙇͟𝙞͟𝙨͟𝙩͟𝙚͟𝙣͟ ͟𝘼͟𝙘͟𝙩͟𝙞͟𝙫͟𝙚͟𝙡͟𝙮͟ Active listening is crucial for building rapport. Show genuine interest in the other person’s responses by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and offering verbal cues like “I see” or “That’s fascinating.” This shows respect and attentiveness, and it encourages a deeper connection by making them feel heard and valued. 4. 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝘽𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 While small talk is about learning about the other person, it’s essential to balance the conversation. Share relevant experiences or insights to build common ground. For example, if they mention their interest in investment strategies, share a brief story about how you started your real estate journey. This balance fosters trust and makes the interaction feel more natural.

Did you know there are three types of listening that can shape your success as a real estate investor? Many investors think it’s just about learning market trends or analyzing deals, but listening skills are equally critical to navigating partnerships, understanding clients, and spotting opportunities. Here’s how these three listening types—Informal, Active, and Intuitive—can benefit your real estate investing journey. 1. 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨 In real estate, Informal Listening is essential for gathering the facts and figures needed to make informed decisions. This is the kind of listening we use when we ask questions to clarify the basics, such as confirming property details with a seller or understanding a client’s goals. For example, you might ask a mortgage broker, “What’s the current rate for investment properties?” or inquire about property features with, “Is this property zoned for multifamily use?” While it sounds straightforward, this type of listening can be easily derailed if questions are misheard or answers lack clarity. In real estate, small misunderstandings can lead to costly mistakes. That’s why, even in informal listening, it’s crucial to verify information and rephrase questions if needed to ensure accuracy. A simple “Just to confirm…” can save you from potential setbacks. 2. 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 Active Listening is critical when forming connections in real estate, whether with clients, investors, or business partners. It involves fully engaging in conversations, showing interest, and responding meaningfully. This type of listening goes beyond just hearing words; it includes non-verbal cues like nodding, maintaining eye contact, and using verbal affirmations like, “I understand” or “That makes sense.” For instance, when discussing investment goals with a potential partner, Active Listening helps you understand their motivations and concerns. By paraphrasing what they’ve said and asking clarifying questions, you demonstrate your commitment to aligning with their goals. This skill is crucial for investors because strong relationships, built on trust and understanding, often lead to lasting partnerships and collaborative projects.

[𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟. 𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠... 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑎𝑙𝑙-𝐸 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑢𝑝 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ - 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 6 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠. 𝑙𝑜𝑙 @𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡 ] Ever feel like your real estate business or investment portfolio is pulling you in every direction? Maybe you’ve got a new project underway, tenants calling about maintenance issues, and your family wondering why you’re always on the phone or on-site. Competing priorities can come at you from all angles, and sometimes it feels like you’re barely keeping your head above water. But here’s the thing—success in real estate isn’t just about having the right opportunities. It’s also about managing yourself and your time effectively. That’s where self-discipline comes into play. As a real estate professional, mastering self-discipline will help you stay focused on your goals, even when life throws everything at you at once. Below, I’m sharing a few self-discipline hacks tailored specifically for real estate investors and entrepreneurs. Implementing these strategies can mean the difference between being overwhelmed by your projects and building a thriving portfolio that lets you live life on your own terms. 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 Just like you would schedule a property closing or construction timeline, set a firm start date for when you’re going to take the first step toward a new habit or goal. Write it down. Whether it’s finally launching that marketing campaign to attract new tenants or diving into a new real estate market, putting a concrete start date in your calendar with a title like “Project Breakthrough” can boost your chances of success. 𝟮. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻? Think about why you chose real estate as your vehicle to success. Is it financial freedom? Legacy building? Or creating passive income to support your lifestyle? Write down your reasons and turn them into affirmations: “I create profitable deals to build wealth and security.” Revisiting your ‘why’ will fuel your self-discipline when the going gets tough.